Atlético: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda,
Godín, Filipe Luis; Tiago, Gabi; Koke (Mario Suárez 68'), Diego
Costa (Raúl García 87'), Arda Turan (Cristian Rodríguez
81'); Falcao. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Kiko Casilla; Javi
López, Colotto, Héctor Moreno, Capdevila; Víctor
Sánchez, Forlín (Longo 50'); Stuani, Verdú, Simao (Petrov
65'); Sergio García. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 37. Falcao (penalty). After Héctor Moreno
brought down Diego Costa in area..
Yellow cards: Forlín 06', Casilla 14', Stuani 34', Tiago 34', Gabi 34', 44', Moreno 36', Arda 56', Colotto 58', Longo 78', Víctor Sánchez 91', Courtois 93' / red cards: Gabi 44'.
Second placed Atlético Madrid stay four points clear of city rivals Real Madrid after a 1-0 victory over Espanyol on Sunday evening. Simeone's side had the better of the first half, although chances were few and far between before Héctor Moreno brought down Diego Costa inside the penalty area, and Falcao stepped up to convert the resulting penalty. Visiting keeper Kiko Casilla had to save from Godín and Costa soon afterwards, but with the first half coming to a close the locals were left with ten men when Gabi got himself sent off for a second bookable offence. Espanyol were looking to build on their recent form under ex Atlético coach Javier Aguirre which has seen them take sixteen points out of a possible eighteen though, and after the restart Javi López, Verdú, Stuani and Colotto all came close to equalising. Atleti held on however for a thirteenth straight home win, and Falcao almost added to the scoreline when he just failed to lob Casilla in the dying minutes.